The M.. I.. Grand Master appointed the following Committees : ON CREDENTIALS. Companions James W. Bowers, P.`. G.'. M.‘., Charles F. Achey, P.. D.. G... M.'., GRAHAM DUKEHART. ON FINANCE. Companions THOMAS J. SHRYOCK, P.. G... M.., George Cook, JACOB LIKES. ON CORRESPONDENCE. Companions GEORGE L. McCAHAN, P... G.'. M.., WILLIAM H. MARTIN, JAMES B. Yeakle. The Committee on Credentials made the following report which was accepted: BALTIMORE, November 11th, 1891. To the Grand Council of Royal and Select Masters of Maryland : The Committee on Credentials beg leave to report that the following named Companions are entitled to seats as Representatives : The M.. I.. Grand Master submitted the following address: COMPANIONS: Another Masonic year has closed and it is with pleasure I greet you at this Annual Assembly. Our gratitude is due to the Omnipotent Ruler who has preserved us in health and strength, and permitted us to assemble without cause to mourn the loss of any near and dear in our Grand Council. I congratulate you on the present condition of the Rite in this jurisdiction. After years of anxiety and labor by the faithful few, who have "borne the burden and heat of the day," the Companions of the Chapters are beginning to realize the importance of the cryptic degrees and are coming forward in goodly numbers and enrolling themselves as members and supporters of the Rite. Several of our Councils which have been lukewarm heretofore, have been rejuvenated during the past year, and good results are apparent, both in accessions to their numbers and the great interest manifested on the part of their membership, by attendance and participation in the work and business of the Councils. Negotiations are pending for the formation of new Councils and I have no doubt that during the coming year three or more dispensations will be issued for their formation. DECISIONS. I have not been called upon to render any decisions or grant dispensations during the year. GENERAL GRAND COUNCIL. The General Grand Council of the United States assembled at Minneapolis on the 22nd of July, 1891. This Grand Council was represented by a full delegation, composed of your Grand Master, Companion ROBERT K. MARTIN, proxy for Companion C. C. ISAACS, Deputy Grand Master and Companion WM. H. CLARK, Grand Principal Conductor of the Work, also Companion GEORGE L. MCCAHAN, Past Grand Master. The representatives of sixteen Grand Councils and three immediate subordinates to the G.. G.. Council, besides a number of permanent members, were in attendance. The General Grand Body being composed of the State jurisdictions from Maine to Florida and from Maryland to Oregon, the members are the leading Companions of the country, and bring acute minds and ripened judgment to the consideration of business in the general interests of the Rite. No business, other than ordinary routine, occupied the attention of the G.. G.. Body, and general satisfaction was expressed, with present conditions. The address of the General Grand Master, and reports of the General Grand Recorder and General Grand Treasurer, show the Rite to be in a healthy condition, with a gratifying increase in the membership, it being in the aggregate 19,138 for the constituents of General Grand Council. Charters were granted for new Councils at Tacoma, Washington and Sioux Falls, South Dakota. On the occasion I enjoyed the pleasure of renewing old and forming new friendships. We were received and entertained by the Companions of Minneapolis in open homes, with warm hearts and free hands, and in our expression of thanks and appreciation of the kindness and courtesy shown us by them we cannot be too pronounced. We saw neither Indians or wild animals in this distant and new place, but a city with every evidence of the prosperity and thrift that could be desired for such great hearted people. A number of our Companions and their ladies were also the recipients of marked courtesies at the hands of the Representative of this Grand Council, near the Grand Council of Minnesota, Companion JOHN R. CAREY, of Duluth, on the occasion of a visit to that city at the close of the General Grand Council, and this opportunity is availed of to express sincere appreciation of the same. GRAND REPRESENTATIVES. Grand Representatives have been appointed as follows: 1891. june 15. Comp. D. E. SEYMOUR, near Grand Council of Maine. 66 W. A. CLENDENING, Sept. 10. "" Tennessee. I received commission re-appointing Companion JOHN M. CARTER, Representative of the Grand Council of Ohio, near this Grand Council. DESTRUCTION OF THE TEMPLE. I am much gratified at being able to state that the destruction of the Temple by fire Christmas Day, 1890, did not cause serious loss to our Grand Council. All of its records, papers and printed proceedings escaped with but slight damage by water and smoke. The Subordinate Councils meeting in the Temple lost their paraphernalia. Two of these, Concordia, No. 1, and Hiram, No. 5, lost their Charters. By my direction the Grand Recorder issued certified copies of the same, and the Councils continued their assemblies without interruption. Companions, I exhort you to maintain your zeal in the work. You have done well; strive to do more and better. You have a good field before you the coming year. Build intelligently, labor industriously, study and practice the ritual; it has deep meaning. When you have no degree work, a short lecture, discussion of Masonic subjects, in which all can participate, or social converse would arouse interest and draw Companions to your assemblies. HENRY C. LARRABEE, Grand Master. The Grand Treasurer and Grand Recorder presented their reports, which were accepted and referred to the Committee on Finance : JOSEPH F. HINDES, Grand Treasurer, in account with the Grand COUNCIL ROYAL AND SELECT MASTERS OF MARYLAND. W. H. Nicholson, Collation and Sentinel.. 24 50 44 66 Oct. 23, Griffin, Curley & Co., Charters and Sta'ry 14 05 "Grand Recorder, Postage.. "Balance..... I 50 121 88 $172 18 GEORGE L. MCCAHAN, Grand Recorder, in account with THE GRAND COUNCIL OF ROYAL AND Select MASTERS OF MARYLAND. The Grand Lecturer presented the following report, which was accepted: BALTIMORE, Nov. 1, 1891. HENRY C. LARRABEE, ESQ., Grand Master Royal and Select Masters of Maryland. MOST ILLUSTRIOUS COMPANION: I respectfully report, that during the year the condition of the Craft in this jurisdiction has been very much improved; more interest is now manifested in Cryptic Masonry than for many years past, and I believe the coming year will witness such a revival of interest among our Companions, as will gladden our hearts. Concordia Council, No. 1, has been as usual, actively at work, and is doing even better than formerly, stimulated, doubtless, by the zeal and activity of Jerusalem Council, No. 2, who have been doing more and better work during the past year than ever before in its history: Hiram Council, No. 5 seems also, to be alive to the necessity of more active efforts, and will, I believe, do better this year than for many years past, a number of the Companions express themselves as determined to make this the Council of the jurisdiction. "So mote it be." |